Negative pressure wound therapy barrier

Abstract

A barrier for use in negative pressure wound therapy can include a base layer and surface structures. The barrier can be used to reduce or prevent tissue ingrowth. A method of using a negative pressure wound therapy system can include positioning a perforated barrier in a wound. After positioning the perforated barrier in the wound, positioning a pad in the wound on top of the perforated barrier, positioning a seal on top of the wound to at least partially seal the perforated barrier and the foam in the wound, and applying negative pressure wound therapy to the wound.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dressing for use in negative pressure wound therapy, the dressing comprising:
 a barrier comprising: 
 a base portion having (i) a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the bottom surface configured to be positioned in a wound and adjacent to wound tissue, and (ii) a plurality of perforations defined through the base portion, wherein the plurality of perforations are positioned, sized, and configured to allow flow through for negative pressure wound therapy; 
 a structural portion adjacent to the top surface of the base portion and having a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls meeting at wall intersections and forming a repeating polygonal shape, a first subset of the plurality of perforations positioned so as to extend through the base portion at areas corresponding to wall intersections, and wherein areas of the plurality of walls corresponding to the wall intersections overlying the first subset of the plurality of perforations each include a recess extending away from the base portion; and 
 a plurality of posts, wherein terminal portions of the plurality of posts extend away from the bottom surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of tabs extending from the base portion in a direction opposite the wound tissue, wherein the tabs are configured to be grabbed to pull the barrier away from the wound tissue. 
     
     
       3. The dressing of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tabs extend from the walls away from the base portion. 
     
     
       4. The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of posts are positioned between the plurality of walls. 
     
     
       5. The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the recess formed in each of the areas of the plurality of walls corresponding to the wall intersections overlying the first subset of the plurality of perforations is configured to allow fluid flow in a direction parallel to the base portion of the barrier. 
     
     
       6. The dressing of  claim 2 , wherein a second subset of the plurality of perforations are positioned so as to extend through the base portion at positions under the plurality of walls. 
     
     
       7. The dressing of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of walls have a greater height at locations where walls connect to the base portion than at locations which have the second subset of the plurality of perforations positioned under the plurality of walls. 
     
     
       8. The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion and the structural portion comprise a pliable medical grade polymer and further comprise filaments or radiopaque markers embedded in the pliable medical grade polymer. 
     
     
       9. The dressing of  claim 1 , further comprising a membrane, the membrane configured to be positioned so as to at least partially seal the barrier in the wound. 
     
     
       10. The dressing of  claim 9 , wherein the membrane comprises an adhesive connection layer for sealing the barrier in the wound. 
     
     
       11. The dressing of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier defines a first set of irrigation channels and a second set of irrigation channels, wherein a plurality of irrigation channels from the second set of irrigation channels branch out from each of the irrigation channels in the first set of irrigation channels. 
     
     
       12. A method of using a negative pressure wound therapy system, the method comprising:
 providing or receiving a membrane and a barrier, wherein the barrier includes a plurality of perforations, wherein the barrier is configured to be positioned in a wound adjacent to wound tissue, and wherein the barrier is configured to prevent or reduce tissue ingrowth from the wound tissue through the barrier; 
 positioning the barrier in the wound adjacent to the wound tissue; 
 after positioning the barrier in the wound: 
 positioning a seal on top of the wound to at least partially seal the barrier in the wound; and 
 applying negative pressure wound therapy to the wound while the barrier is positioned in the wound such that fluid is allowed to flow from the wound tissue, through the perforations of the barrier, and through an outlet of the membrane; 
 wherein the barrier comprises a base layer and a plurality of walls extending from the base layer, wherein a first plurality of the perforations are positioned so as to extend through the base layer at positions between the plurality of walls, and wherein a second plurality of perforations are positioned so as to extend through the base layer at positions under the plurality of walls; and 
 wherein the plurality of walls are positioned so as to form a repeating polygonal shape, wherein the plurality of walls meet at wall intersections, and wherein the second plurality of perforations are positioned under at least some of the wall intersections. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the barrier is an injection molded polymer barrier having complex geometry that is configured to prevent tissue in-growth from the wound tissue. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of walls have a greater height at locations where the plurality of walls connect to the base layer than at locations which have the second plurality of perforations positioned under the wall intersections. 
     
     
       15. A method of using a negative pressure wound therapy system, the method comprising:
 providing or receiving a membrane and a barrier, wherein the barrier includes a plurality of perforations, wherein the barrier is configured to be positioned in a wound adjacent to wound tissue, and wherein the barrier is configured to prevent or reduce tissue ingrowth from the wound tissue through the barrier; 
 positioning the barrier in the wound adjacent to the wound tissue; 
 after positioning the barrier in the wound: 
 positioning a seal on top of the wound to at least partially seal the barrier in the wound; and 
 applying negative pressure wound therapy to the wound while the barrier is positioned in the wound such that fluid is allowed to flow from the wound tissue, through the perforations of the barrier, and through an outlet of the membrane; 
 wherein the barrier comprises a base layer and a plurality of walls extending from the base layer, wherein a first plurality of the perforations are positioned so as to extend through the base layer at positions between the plurality of walls, and wherein a second plurality of perforations are positioned so as to extend through the base layer at positions under the plurality of walls, and the barrier comprises posts extending from the base layer at indentations defined between the plurality of walls. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of tabs extending from a top side of the base layer, wherein the tabs are configured to be grabbed to pull the barrier out of the wound,
 the method further comprising: 
 sucking liquid and exudate through the plurality of perforations formed in the barrier; 
 removing the membrane from the wound; and 
 after removing the membrane, removing the barrier from the wound by grabbing one or more of the plurality of tabs extending from the barrier and pulling. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising:
 cutting the barrier to a barrier size suitable to be placed in the wound. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising:
 providing irrigation to the wound through one or more irrigation channels formed in the barrier and extending through the membrane. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 cutting the barrier to a barrier size suitable to be placed in the wound. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 providing irrigation to the wound through one or more irrigation channels formed in the barrier and extending through the membrane.